LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session February 5, 1999 TO: Honorable Florence Shapiro, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: SB129 by Brown, J.E. "Buster" (Relating to the regulation of geologists, geophysicists, and soil scientists; providing an administrative and a criminal penalty.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB129, As * * Introduced: positive impact of $0 through the biennium ending * * August 31, 2001. * * * * The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal * * basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of * * the bill. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2000 $0 * * 2001 0 * * 2002 0 * * 2003 0 * * 2004 0 * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: ************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Probable Revenue Change in Number of * * Year Savings/(Cost) from Gain/(Loss) from New State Employees from * * New - Geoscientists - Geoscientists Fund FY 1999 * * Fund * * 2000 $(1,200,000) $1,200,000 15.0 * * 2001 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 * * 2002 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 * * 2003 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 * * 2004 (1,000,000) 1,000,000 15.0 * ************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would create a nine-member Board of Licensure for Geologists, Geophysicists, and Soil Scientists. The bill would allow the board to adopt rules, administer exams, issue licenses, and perform other duties to administer the provisions of the bill. The bill would allow the board to set "reasonable and necessary" fees to offset the expenses incurred in administering the provisions of the bill. The bill would create the Geoscientists Fund, a dedicated fund in the state treasury. Methodology It is estimated that a staff of approximately 15 full-time equivalents (FTEs) plus associated operating costs would be required to administer the provisions of the bill. This estimate is based on the assumption that approximately 10,000 professionals in the field of geoscience would apply for licensure. It is assumed that the board would set fees at a rate sufficient to cover the cost of administration. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 304 Comptroller Of Pub Accts, 308 State Auditor's Office LBB Staff: JK, SD, RT, CB